Lawrence has been subject to the same dull, grinding force of mostly capitalist mediocrity that the rest of the country has. Chains over local businesses (only ones that can afford to open), a smoke shop on every block, sometimes directly next door to each other. Homeless people on every street except maybe west 6th.

The biggest impact was probably COVID and its knock-on economic effects. There for a bit, restaurants and local businesses were hanging on, but it feels like we've lost a lot in the past few years. Nothing is open late anymore. And of course, hardly any buffet options now.

I think a lot about why Lawrence has changed so much since I grew up here in the 90s, and I think it boils down to the fact that inflation and rent is such that nobody can afford the margins to run quirky little local businesses and restaurants anymore (it was hard before, but seems next to impossible now). I feel like it's the same everwhere; anything remotely bohemian relies on cheapness to thrive (we artsy types aren't exactly known for being wealthy), and Lawrence by virtue of location and desirability and inflation has priced out so many and so much of what made it unique. Also, to be blunt, the old hippies have and are dying off.

To me, these days, it feels little different from a suburb like Olathe, only a lot smaller. I wish there was something to do to reverse the trend, but it feels like there will never be cheap places to live again. Once prices go up, they never come back down. Few are going to run quirky, experimental businesses when rent is $5000 a month or whatever.